COE Adds Four New Advisory Council Members

By: Christi Fish
Public Affairs Specialist

Michael D. Burke, Michael J. Burke, Ben Streetman and Philip Howlett joined the advisory council of the College of Engineering at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

“The support of our advisory council is essential to the success of the College,” said Mauli Agrawal, dean of the College of Engineering. “We count on the council to help direct and support our growth, and we work with its members to raise awareness of the wonderful achievements of our students, faculty and alumni. Our advisory council members are our biggest fans and most trusted advisors. I am delighted that four outstanding leaders in their respective fields have agreed to join the council.”

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College Gears Up for Move Into New Applied Engineering & Technology Building

By: Christi Fish
Public Affairs Specialist

Although the official ribbon-cutting will not take place until Spring 2010, UTSA students, faculty and staff are stirring with excitement at the anticipated completion of the new $82.5 million Applied Engineering and Technology Building (AET) on the UTSA Main Campus. The new 145,440-square-foot facility, a phase II expansion of its neighbor, the Biotechnology, Sciences and Engineering Building (BSE), will be completed by the end of the month.

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UTSA President Ricardo Romo delivers "State of the University" address

By: Christi Fish
Public Affairs Specialist

UTSA President Ricardo Romo delivered his inaugural “State of the University” address this week to more than 600 members of the UTSA and Greater San Antonio communities, discussing UTSA’s bid to become a tier one research university and the notable advances it has made in support of that vision.

Dignitaries present at the inaugural address included Texas Senator Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio), whose advocacy has strengthened the economic climate for higher education in Texas by helping UTSA realize a 7.5 percent increase in its operating budget and $4 million in support of the San Antonio Life Sciences Institute (SALSI). Also present was Texas Representative Dan Branch (R-Dallas), chairman of the House Higher Education Committee and author of House Bill 51, which established funding for Texas’ emerging public research universities.

“When we speak of becoming a ‘premier university,’ or a ‘national research university,’ or a ‘tier-one university,’ what we really mean is that UTSA creates an environment where young people can come to achieve their full potential, and where scholars can come to reset the boundaries of human knowledge and creativity,” said Romo. “This is the university we are becoming!”

Presently, UTSA is among the top-third of American Universities for funding in research and sponsored programs. It is ranked eighth in the nation for research expenditures among Hispanic-serving institutions and third in Texas for research expenditures in the life sciences, behind The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M. In addition, UTSA is second in the University of Texas System for research funding in biology, social sciences, arts and humanities, microelectronics and computer technology.

Additional accomplishments noted by Romo included:

• An increase in total student enrollment from 28,400 students in fall 2008 to a historical high of 29,100 students in fall 2009 and a 20 percent increase in graduate student enrollment
• The recruitment of more than 50 top faculty from across the nation and internationally—leaders in their fields of research
• The addition of football to UTSA’s athletics program and the recruitment of Head Coach Larry Coker
• The UTSA College of Business’ ranking as No. 1 in the country according to Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education
• The enhancement of student life at UTSA and the university’s transition from a commuter school to a campus community
• The new discoveries made by UTSA’s researchers and its 19 campus-based research institutes and centers
• UTSA’s initiative to develop academic and research partnerships with strategically-aligned universities worldwide

In addition, Romo spoke about UTSA’s plans for the future, including its goal of reaching $100 million in research expenditures by 2016; the new Campus Master Plan and a reduction in student-to-teacher ratios; the expansion of the Main Campus library; and the university’s 10-year re-accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

View the text of President Romo’s address.

Watch the address online.

UTSA to Host Technology Entrepreneurship Boot Camp

To help solo entrepreneurs and established companies commercialize new technologies, UTSA’s Center for Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship will host the Jackson Walker Technology Entrepreneurship Boot Camp from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, October 2 in Business Building Room 2.06.04 on the Main Campus.

The daylong boot camp will offer participants an intensive crash course on the commercialization of new technologies.  Throughout the day, expert presentations on fundamental technology entrepreneurship skills will include opportunity identification; business planning and pitching; IP and business law; social media, public relations and branding; and funding a technology start-up in San Antonio.

Keynote speaker Larry J. Miller, M.D. will kick off CITE’s daylong boot camp for entrepreneurs.  Miller is the founder, chairman and chief medical officer of Vidacare, a successful multi-million dollar San Antonio technology venture.

The CITE Entrepreneurship Boot Camp is co-sponsored by the UTSA’s College of Business, College of Engineering and Office of the Vice President for Research as well as the San Antonio Technology Accelerator Initiative.

Registration is free for UTSA faculty, students and staff as well as faculty and students from others institutions of higher education.  To register, click here.  The cost for the general public is $95.00.  Payment can be made by cash or check the day of the event. For more information, call (210) 458-5782.